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Mulcair: Finding affordable childcare shouldn’t be like winning the lottery

A national childcare plan is an investment that’s as good for our economy as it is for our children, argues federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair.

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Tom Mulcair is promising an NDP government would create a million daycare spaces that parents could access for $15 a day. Mulcair says the plan is as good for the economy as it is for families.(The Canadian Press - News (En))

By Tom Mulcair

Wed., Oct. 15, 2014

When parents today manage to find a quality, affordable childcare space for one of their kids, it can feel like they’ve won the lottery. When they see the price tag, it can feel like they’ll have to actually win the lottery to cover the bill.

Today, it’s not uncommon for many families to pay more for childcare than they do for their mortgage – in some cases as much as $2,000 a month per child. In Toronto, a woman making the median wage might have to spend her entire month’s income to pay for care for one child. And for those who can’t find a space, or can’t afford one, the choices are tougher still.

Families with two working parents have been commonplace for decades, yet too many still struggle to access this basic necessity of modern life. Parents, women in particular, often have to miss work or downgrade jobs because they can’t find reliable care. Aboriginal communities all too often have no access to quality care at all. And far too many children miss out altogether on the simply terrific opportunities that quality early learning programs have to offer.

Nearly three-quarters of mothers with children under six are in the workforce, yet only one in five Canadian kids has access to quality childcare space.

Over the last two decades, Liberals and Conservatives have repeatedly promised action on childcare, and repeatedly failed to deliver. Liberals promised universal affordable childcare in their first Red Book in 1993, yet they refused to act until their government was on the brink of being thrown out over the sponsorship scandal 13 years later. Conservatives promised to create 125,000 new childcare spots in just five years, yet – in their ninth year in power – they’ve yet to create a single space.

We believe that parents should be able to find the quality childcare spaces they need at a cost of no more than $15 a day per child.

New Democrats are ready to work with provincial governments and aboriginal communities to provide national early childhood education and childcare programs. We’ll work together to create one million affordable childcare spaces across Canada by the end of our second mandate.

My wife Catherine and I raised two boys, who both went to daycare. Our grandson turned one this past spring. Our granddaughter is just at that age of insatiable curiosity about everything in the world, she also benefited from quality daycare. I understand the critical importance of giving our kids a good start, with quality care in a stimulating, supportive environment. I want that opportunity for every family in Canada.

Quality childcare is a clear signal that we value not only our children’s future, but our country’s as well. We know that access to high quality early childhood education programs results in better social and economic outcomes for children.

As a cabinet minister in Quebec, I saw it firsthand. After Quebec’s childcare program was implemented, women in particular were able to participate in the labour force at a much higher rate than in the rest of Canada. Creating new childcare jobs and increasing women’s labour force participation boosted the Quebec economy by $5.1 billion a year.

Quality childcare is good for business too. According to employer multipliers calculated by Statistics Canada, our plan will help create approximately a quarter million jobs. This is an investment that’s as good for our economy as it is for our children. It’s an investment we can’t afford not to make.

Looking for childcare shouldn’t be like playing the lottery. It’s time for action, right now.

Tom Mulcair is leader of the Official Opposition and leader of the federal New Democratic Party.

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